The aggiegate value of this fish, (the Aiosa Sapidissima, Rap.,) taken in tfie Hudson river and neighbouring waters south of the Highlands, amounts to $^100,000 annually.

Tlie small settle.jnent of Kingsbridge bordering on the Haarlem river, took its name from a ferry and bridge established here at a very early period of the Colonial administration. The Westchester side of the bridge (where stands the Macomb's mansion,) was formerly an island called by the Indians Paperinemen, as

» Beauties of Washington Irving, p. 198.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 443

we find the Director General, William Kieft, granting nnto Matys (Matthew) Jansen the isle of Paperinemen, I8th August, 1646. a 1674, John Arclier, lord of the manor of Fordham, laid claim to a neck of land called Hiunock Island, commonly called by the Indians Paperinemen, which he asserted he had by patent. Bat it would appear that Governor Lovelace had already settled an individual by the name of Vervelen upon the island to keep a ferry for the accommodation of passengers between the island and the Westchester shore. To satisfy Archer's claim, however, the secretary of the colony, Matthias NicoUs, agreed to pay a yearly rent for the same.

1692, His Excellency the Governor "out of great favour and good to the city of New York proposed the building of a bridge over the spiketi devil ferry T^

The same year at a meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen and As - sisiants, we find them petitioning the Governor,

That as Frederick Phillipse will undertake to build the bridge at the said place, for the conveniency of all travellers and droves of cattle at a moderate and reasonable toll ; they do therefore humbly pray, that if the said Phillipse will undertake in one years time to build a good and convenient draw bridge for the passage of all travellers, droves of cattle and passage of carts and waggons, for the toll of one penny for every neat cattle, and two pence for each man and horse, and I'3 pence for each score of hogs and sheep, and six pence for each cart and waggon that shall pass thereon, that he may have the preference of their majesties grant fur the same by having a bridge built there. •=